- Enrollment
- 2,430
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Scottsdale, AZ
Desert Shadows Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Desert Shadows Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 040593000479
👥 S:T ratio 17
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 21
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Desert Shadows Middle School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Arizona schools.
- #7 of 7
- middle schools in Scottsdale · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.8:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 5.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Desert Shadows Middle School has class sizes larger than 80% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Shadows Middle School ranks #7 of 7 middle schools in Scottsdale, AZ.
School address
District: Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) · Arizona
NCES ID 040593000479 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-46 students YoY
Desert Shadows Middle School shrank from 780 students in 2022-23 to 734 in 2023-24 (-5.9%).
Teacher FTE lost 38.2 → 35.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-46 students YoY 040593000479 · Scottsdale, AZ Middle · MID · TRAD
791 enr · 20.8:1 · 5.0% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Pinnacle High School (2,430 students)
Desert Shadows Middle School shrank from 780 students in 2022-23 to 734 in 2023-24 (-5.9%). Teacher FTE lost 38.2 → 35.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Desert Shadows Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Pinnacle High
Pinnacle High School
2,430 students
- Paradise Valle
Paradise Valley High School
1,900 students
- Horizon High S
Horizon High School
1,767 students
- North Canyon H
North Canyon High School
1,560 students
- Shadow Mountai
Shadow Mountain High School
1,080 students
- This school 791
Desert Shadows Middle School
791 students
What this shows Desert Shadows Middle School reports 791 students on the CCD universe file.
How Desert Shadows Middle School compares
Desert Shadows Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.8:1 | ▲ 22% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 5.0% | ▼ 90% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 791 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.8:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
791
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
5.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 90% below the Arizona average of 48.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
20.8:1
students per teacher
- 22% above state mean
Top 80% in Arizona - lower ratio than 20% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
52.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,848
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,502
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 396 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
23
in-school suspensions + 82 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 69.2%
Hispanic or Latino 17.6%
Two or More 6.4%
Asian 3.3%
African American 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 69.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 48.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 48.4, Desert Shadows Middle School is about as mixed as the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) reports $11,848 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Desert Shadows Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinnacle High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paradise Valley High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Horizon High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Canyon High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Shadow Mountain High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Desert Shadows Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,900
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,767
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,560
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,080
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~791 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.8:1)
Frequently asked questions about Desert Shadows Middle School
How many students attend Desert Shadows Middle School?
Desert Shadows Middle School has 791 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Scottsdale, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 780 (2022-23) → 734 (2023-24), down 46.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Desert Shadows Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Desert Shadows Middle School is 20.8:1, which is 22% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 32% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Desert Shadows Middle School?
5.0% of students at Desert Shadows Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Desert Shadows Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Desert Shadows Middle School is White at 69.2% of enrollment, in Scottsdale, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Desert Shadows Middle School?
Desert Shadows Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Desert Shadows Middle School rank among middle schools in Scottsdale?
By Resource Investment Index, Desert Shadows Middle School ranks #7 of 7 middle schools in Scottsdale, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Scottsdale on the city page.
What other schools are in Paradise Valley Unified District (4241)?
Besides Desert Shadows Middle School, Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) also operates Pinnacle High School (2,430 students), Paradise Valley High School (1,900 students), and Horizon High School (1,767 students). See the Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) district page for the complete list.